Marinated Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

If you’re tired of dry chicken, you need to try making our Marinated Air Fryer Chicken Thighs. With our tips and tricks, you’ll be able to create chicken that’s flavorful, crispy and tender every time.

In this post, I’ll share my tips and tricks for selecting the best chicken thighs, creating the perfect marinade, cooking it in the air fryer, and serving suggestions for some of the easiest weeknight chicken thighs ever.

The Best Chicken Thighs for Air Frying

• I have found that when it comes to the best chicken thighs for air frying, it all comes down to choosing the right cut. Opt for bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs as they provide the most flavor and moisture.
• In addition, bone-in chicken thighs also take longer to cook, which allows the meat to fully absorb the marinade and become extra tender.
• When selecting chicken thighs, look for those that are evenly sized. This will ensure that they cook evenly in the air fryer. Also, be sure to pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels before marinating to help the marinade stick better and prevent any excess moisture in the air fryer.

Now, let’s move on to the next step and create the perfect marinade to take your chicken to the next level.

The Perfect Marinade Ingredients

To create the perfect marinade for your chicken thighs, start with a balanced combination of acid, fat, and spices.

• For the acid, choose citrus or vinegar to help tenderize the meat and add brightness to the flavor. We chose lemon juice for a bright flavor.
• For the fat, opt for a nice flavorful olive oil to help the marinade adhere to the chicken and add richness.
• And for spices, the possibilities are endless. We used some fresh garlic, thyme, parsley, smoked paprika and salt. Try adding some heat with some cayenne pepper or chili powder.

How to Make the Best Marinated Chicken Thighs

1. Mix the marinade ingredients together in a bowl or sealable bag, and then add the chicken thighs. Be sure to coat each thigh evenly with the marinade and then let them marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 24 hours for maximum flavor.
2. Once the chicken has marinated, it’s time to cook it in the air fryer. But before we get to that, let’s take a quick look at some tips for getting the best results when cooking chicken in the air fryer.

When it comes to cooking chicken in the air fryer, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure that you get perfectly cooked and juicy meat every time.

• First and foremost, it’s important to preheat your air fryer before adding the chicken. This will help to ensure even cooking and prevent the meat from drying out.
• Another key tip is to avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. While it may be tempting to cook as many chicken thighs as possible at once, doing so can result in uneven cooking and a lack of crispy skin. Instead, try to cook the chicken in batches or invest in an air fryer with a larger basket if you plan on cooking large quantities of meat.
• Finally, be sure to check the temperature of the chicken with a meat thermometer before removing it from the air fryer. It should reach an internal temperature of 165°F.

Now that you know how to cook your chicken to perfection in the air fryer, it’s time to talk about serving suggestions.

What to Pair with Chicken Thighs

• For a classic pairing, serve the chicken with some roasted vegetables like broccoli or carrots.
• For a starchy side dish, you can’t go wrong with orzo. Try this creamy garlic parmesan orzo or lemon orzo with asparagus.
• If you’re feeling adventurous, try serving the chicken alongside these sweet potato stackers. They are a show stopper!

MARINATED AIR FRYER CHICKEN THIGHS
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